Iran to purchase more uranium after approval from US, other countries

From left to right : Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, Philip Hammond then UK’s foreign minister, and John Kerry, US state secretary. They discuss the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2015. Photo: AP

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Officials from six world powers approved an Iranian purchase of as much as 130 tons of uranium, the country’s Press TV channel reported on Friday.

“The Joint Commission monitoring the implementation of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 approved the purchase on the part of Iran during a meeting in the Austrian capital of Vienna on Wednesday,” Behrouz Kamalvandi, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman, said in reference to China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — plus Germany.

Kamalvandi claims Iran had previously purchased 220 tons of uranium and currently possess about 350 tons. Iran, which is known to have one operational nuclear plant in Bushehr and another under construction in Darkhovin, is one of the world’s largest producers of oil and natural gas.

“Given that this amounts to a valuable resource, it places us in a very favorable position,” he said.

US State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday that natural uranium imports into Iran are not forbidden under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a 2015 agreement between Iran and the P5+1, which is colloquially known as the Iran Nuclear Deal. The deal forbids Iran from enriching or importing uranium up to weapons-grade quality.

“They’re allowed to bring in natural uranium. Kirby said. “There’s no prohibition on bringing in natural uranium. They are still held to all the limitations of the Iran deal. That doesn’t change. And we still have the most robust inspection regime in place